THE Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), the multilateral development bank owned by the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), announced Tuesday that it has acquired a 5.62 percent equity stake in Saudi-based The Industrialization and Energy Services Company (TAQA) from Arabian Pipes Company (APC). The government of Saudi Arabia owns a 17 percent stake in APICORP. APICORP is now the joint third largest shareholder in the company with over 11.2 million shares. A Closed Joint Stock Company established in 2003 as part of Saudi Arabia's privatization strategy, TAQA is owned 45 percent by the Saudi Government, with the reminder owned by several institutional, private and industrial investors. Ahmad Bin Hamad Al Nuaimi, APICORP's CEO and GM, said: “The TAQA equity acquisition is a perfect fit for our investment strategy. It is consistent with our commitment to supporting prominent Arab energy companies that show significant growth and value-creation potential. At the same time, it dovetails well into our objective of diversifying into sectors that provide vital support services for the hydrocarbon industry. TAQA has achieved robust growth over the last decade and its development has also brought tangible economic benefits, one of them being transfer of know-how. As part of our mandate, we are keen to invest in companies like TAQA, which play a crucial role in helping Arab countries maximize efficiencies in the energy value chain. As the company gears to expand its operations, we look forward to supporting its growth along with other key shareholders.” APICORP has a long and successful track record in participating as an equity stakeholder in companies in the Arab world. The multilateral development bank participates in the strategic and managerial development of its investee companies, bringing many strengths to their development including its strong capital and liquidity position, relationships with a range of institutional players, financial advisory services, and extensive technical and project management know-how. “TAQA's growth and ambitious expansion make it a very valuable addition to our investment diversification program, which earlier this year saw the launch of the APICORP Petroleum Shipping Fund. Establishing the right balance in our funding composition and prudently managing our debt has allowed us to accelerate the momentum of our investment growth. The success of our investments is borne out by our high asset quality, which was a key factor in Moody's affirmation of APICORP's Aa3 rating in September. Encouraged by these positives, we will continue to explore investment opportunities in new oil and gas and services sectors across the Arab world,” Al Nuaimi added. Riyadh-based TAQA has a substantial portfolio of subsidiaries and affiliates established in joint ventures with global leaders. These companies are today leading operators in fields such as drilling, geophysical services, oil field services, seamless pipe manufacturing, industrial gases, and oil and gas offshore platform fabrication. Joint ventures in which it is a majority shareholder include Arab Drilling Company (ADC), one of Saudi Arabia's largest drilling companies, established in alliance with Schlumberger; Arabian Geophysical & Surveying Company (ARGAS) formed in partnership with CGG Veritas; and Al-Jubail Energy Services Company (JESCO), the GCC region's first seamless pipes manufacturing company. – SG
